Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has taken direct charge of the response to a serious typhoid outbreak in his Gandhinagar constituency, instructing local authorities to act with urgency. The outbreak, linked to contaminated water, has affected more than a hundred residents, including several children.
Minister's High-Level Review Meeting
On Sunday, Amit Shah, who is also the Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, held a crucial meeting to assess the situation. He interacted with Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the Gandhinagar Municipal Commissioner, and the Gandhinagar District Collector to receive updates on the ground realities. Shah explicitly directed the administration to 'act on a war footing' to contain the spread of the disease and provide relief.
Scale of the Outbreak and Government Action
According to an official state government release, the outbreak is concentrated in areas like Sector 24, Sector 28, and Adalaj's Adivada village due to water contamination. So far, 113 suspected typhoid cases have been identified. Of these, 19 patients have been discharged after treatment, while the remaining 94 are receiving care. Their condition is reported as stable.
Medical facilities have been ramped up significantly. Patients are being treated at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital and Urban Health Centres (UHCs) in Sectors 24 and 29. A 24x7 Outpatient Department (OPD) has been started in the affected zones to ensure continuous access to medical help.
Massive Preventive Drive and Water Supply Overhaul
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has launched an extensive survey, covering over 20,800 households and a population exceeding 90,000 to identify potential cases and sources of infection. As immediate preventive measures, authorities have distributed 30,000 chlorine tablets and 20,600 ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) packets to residents.
Addressing the root cause, the municipal corporation has committed to switching to a 24x7 water supply system by Monday, ensuring adequately chlorinated water reaches every household. Teams are also undertaking immediate repairs of both minor and major pipeline leakages in the affected sectors to prevent further contamination.
The government release also outlined Shah's specific directives, which include ensuring prompt specialist treatment for all typhoid patients, arranging meals for patients and their relatives at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, and carrying out intensive pipeline inspections across the area.
